Carbureting device



Oct. 13, 1942. HERSCH 2,298,563

CARBURETING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1939 INVENTOR. HAVE/VAN HA-ESCHATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,298,563csnnmm'rma nnvrca Herman Hersch, Cleveland, Ohio Application November16, 1939, Serial No. 304,802

10 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and moreparticularly to means for imcarburetor and the mixture conveyed to thecylinders by a suitable conduit or manifold.

In the usual internal combustion engine of the type used in automobilesthe carburetor is disposed either below the riser pipe of the manifoldin up-draft relation, or above the riser or connecting pipe to themanifold down-draft relation. In each of these arrangements diflicultyis frequently experienced in properly mixing the gasoline in atomized orvapor form with the stream of air and' the efliciency and performance ofthe engine are interfered with by incomplete and improper formation ofthe mixture. The mixture outlet of the carburetor and the riser of themanifold to whichthe carburetor is attached constitute a pipe or mixtureconduit leading to the manifold header. One of the principal causes ofineflicient or improper operation of the engine is due to the fact thatliquid gasoline collects on the wall of this conduit and flows alongthis wall in liquid form instead of being drawn along with the mixture.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide means for collectingthis liquid gasoline and effectively reintroducing it into the mixturestream in such a manner that it will be vaporized or atomized andre-introduced into the main mixture stream in proper form for eflicientcombustion in the cylinders; Other objects of my invention are theprovision of a device of the type described which has no moving parts,is susceptible to economical production and which may be readilyinstalled in present day automobiles without the use of special tools orfittings of any kind; the provision of means for increasing the gasolinemileage and both high and low speed performance of automotive vehicles;the provision of means for collecting a liquid from the walls of aconduit conveying a mixture of liquid and a gas and reintroducing thecollected liquid in atomized or vapor form into the moving stream ofmixture. I am aware that prior attempts have been made to solve theproblem of liquid flowing along the walls of a mixture conduit, and itis a further object of my invention to overcome the defects of theseprior efforts.

The above and other objects of my invention will appear from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing, in whichdevice, looking at thedown-stream side thereof.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a mixtureconduit having a throttle valve therein and my economizer inserted inthe conduit in proper relation to the throttle valve.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of my economizer looking at theup-stream side thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFigure 3 and including a portion of the carburetor wall.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3 andalso illustrating a portion of the carburetor wall.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l'! of Figure 3"andincluding portions of boththe carburetor and manifold sections of themixture conduit.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fi ure 7 but taken on line8--8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I0-l0 of Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a detached perspective view of one of the small cover platemembers for the liquid collecting passages.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing another form ofVenturi inlet.

I have illustrated, and will describe, my economizer device as disposedbetween the flange of Figure l is a perspective view of my economizerthe carburetor mixture outlet and the corresponding flange of themanifold user. It will be understood that my economizer might beinserted at any other place in the mixture conduit system where there isa tendency for liquid to collect on and move along the wall of theconduit. The device shown and described is a separate article adapted tobe inserted between the carburetor and manifold of the usual automobileengine but it will also be understood that the device might be builtinto the carburetor structure or the manifold structure withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

The carburetor proper is not illustrated and may be of any suitableform. A down-draft arrangement is shown in the drawing in which thecarburetor mixture outlet I is provided with the usual butterfly typethrottle valve 2. Updraft connections may, of course, be used ifdesired. This valve extends across the mixture conduit 3 and isrotatable to increase or decrease the area of the passage through theconduit. The mixture flow is in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2and, to close the throttle and reduce the flow of mixture, the valve 2is rotated in counter-clockwise direction while to increase the flow andopen the throttle it is moved in clockwise direction. In normaloperation the butterfly valve 2 is always disposed in slanting relationto the axis of the conduit 3 and the down-stream portion 2 of thethrottle valve tends to direct the mixture toward the right hand side ofthe con-' duit 3 (Fig. 2). It will be understood that the maximummixture velocity will occur at the point of greatest reduction in area,i. c., adjacent the portion 2 of the throttle valve.

In Figure 2 my economizer is indicated generally by the referencecharacter A and it will be seen that the body of the device is clampedbetween the flanges 4 and 5 of the carburetor and the flanges 6 and I ofthe manifold mixture conduit or riser B by means of bolts 9 and I0.Gaskets II and I2 of suitable, preferably resilient, material form atight seal between the top face I3 of the economizer A and the flanges 4and 5 of the carburetor and the bottom face I4 of the economizer A andthe flanges 6 and I of the manifold.

The carburetor mixture conduit 3 is usually circular in cross-sectionand, in order to collect liquid which may be traveling along the wallsof the conduit, I include in my device A a body portion having anopening I5 therethrough and a radially inwardly extending portion I5having a flange or wall I6 extending into the opening I5 in an up-streamdirection to form a generally annular collecting trough or groove I1.The wall I6 is preferably very thin and the radial width of the troughor groove I1 is relatively small, being merely suificient to collect anyliquid which is running along the inner walls of th conduit 3. The outeredge of this trough or groove I1 is flush with the wall of the conduit 3and the trough is divided into a plurality of segmental portions, one ofwhich is indicated at B on Figure 3 by bafiie walls or dams I8 whichextend radially outwardly from the lip or flange I6. Locating orcentering lugs I9 project upwardly from the dams I8 adjacent the innerflange I6. These lugs, as seen in Figure 2, extend upwardly somewhatabove the top of the flange I8 and extend radially outwardly therefromto a point substantially at the outer circumference of the groove I1 andthe inner diameter of the mixture conduit 3. These lugs provide meanswhereuy, when they are inserted into the bore of the mixture pipe, thedevice will be centered therein and the groove I! will extend uniformlyinto the mixture path around the circumference of the conduit 3.

Each of the segmental sections of the groove I1 is connected by radiallyextending grooves 20 to the outer circumferential groove or passage 2|.This passage does not extend entirely around the full circumference but,as is seen in Figure 3, is broken directly opposite from the Venturimember V. It does, however, form a continuous connection for liquidwhich is collected in the sections of the trough II which extend intothe mixture path. Liquid so collected passes through the various radialgrooves 20 into the outer groove 2| A connection 22 is provided fromthis groove 2| into the passage through the Venturi tube generallyindicated at V. The boss 23 carries the passage 22 to a point removedfrom the wall of the venturi and a small liquid outlet 23 is preferablyprovided extending from the passage 22 into the interior of the venturiin a down-stream direction. The venturi may be of any usual and suitableform and has its enlarged up-stream end 24 extending upwardly into thebore of the carburetor outlet pipe (see Figs. 2 and 6). The bottomelongated discharge end 25 of the venturi extends in down-streamdirection into the manifold 8. Although the usual circular cross-sectionventuri is illustrated it will be seen that any means for increasing thevelocity and decreasing th pressure of a portion of the mixture passingthrough the conduit may be embodied in my device.

Projections 26 extend up from the dams I8 and depressions 21 are formedin the face I3 of the economizer device. These bosses and depressionsserve to locate and retain in position the small cover plates 28 whichare shown in detached view in Figure 11. In Figure 3 one of these coverplates is shown in position although, for purposes of clearerillustration, the cover p ates are not shown on the other dams I8. Itwill be understood, however, that when the device is installed thesecover plates 28 will be positioned on each of the dams I8 before thegasket II is placed on top of the face I3 of the economizer.

Referring particularly to Figure 9 it will be observed that thecollecting groove I! has a deeper portion 29 adjacent the radial grooves20. The plates 28 co-act with the deeper portions of the groove I! toform protected portions of the collecting groove I! which facilitate theflow of liquid from the groove I'I out through the passages 20 into theouter groove 2|. The arrangement of these parts will be clearly seenfromthe various cross-sectional views.

In the operation of my device, when it is installed as shown in Figure2, all liquid which flows along the walls of the conduit 3 will becollected in the segmental portions of the groove I1 and will then flowinto the radial passages 20 and thence into the annular passage 2|, itbeing understood that when the device is installed the grooves 20 and 2|are covered by the gasket II forming closed liquid passages. The inletof the venturi V is disposed immediately beyond the down-stream edge ofthe throttle valve 2 at a point where the mixture velocity is at arelatively high value. Thus, a gaseous mixture, moving at high velocity,will be directed into the inlet 24 of the venturi. Due to the wellunderstood Venturi action the velocity in the reduced section of thetube V will be increased and the pressure reduced thus creating asuction on the end of the passage 22. This suction will be effective tocause liquid which has been collected in the groove 51 to be drawn intothe groov 2| and thence into the passage 22 from which it will bere-introduced and re-atomized in th mixture stream passing through theVenturi throat.

.Figure 12 illustrates a form of my invention in which the tube orconduit 30 for conveying liquid into the venturi 3| has its outlet endcurved downwardly in the direction of flow through the venturi. Thus,the projecting elbow section 32 of the liquid conduit has its openingtoward the down-stream end of the venturi 3| and it has been found thatthis arrangement assists in causing a free flow of liquid into thematerial passing through the venturi,

I have found that by providing the auxiliary outside liquid passage 2|and breaking up the collecting groove I'I into a plurality of separatedsegmental portions I am able to overcome difficulties previouslyexperienced in getting liquid collected in a projecting groove to passinto a Venturi throat. The tendency, where my improved liquid passage isnot employed, is for the pressure of the mixture against the liquid inthe trough which projects into the mixture passage to prevent the liquidfrom consistently and effectively being conveyed to the venturi. Byinserting the dams I8 across the collecting groove ll circulation ofliquid around the groove I1 for any material distance is prevented andthe liquid is caused immediately to pass into the closed groove 2| whereit is subjected directly to the suction caused by the flow of themixture through the venturi V.

Another important feature of my invention is the location of the venturiV directly below the down-stream edge of the butter-fly throttle valve.Thus, the venturi is placed in the zone of greatest mixture velocityand, by virtue of the high velocity of the gaseous mixture directed intothe venturi, a suflicient suction is created in the liquid passages 22and 2| to cause the collected liquid to be drawn promptly andeffectively into the Venturi throat and re-mixed with the portion of themixture which is passing therethrough. Of course, the mixture whichemerges from the exit end 25 of the venturi may be somewhat richer thanthat which does not pass through the venturi but, as a well atomized andvaporized mixture is obtained in the venturi V, diffusion will promptlytake place and the resultant mixture stream into the manifold below theoutlet of the venturi will be homogenous and free from large particlesof liquid which might collect on the walls resulting in unevendistribution and poor fuel economy.

Although I have described the illustrated em- I bodiment of my inventionin considerable detail it will be understood that numerous variationsand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention. As noted above, the principles of my invention might beincorporated in an integral structure with a carburetor or a manifold. Adown-draft carburetor has been illustrated but the principle of myinvention is equally adaptable to up-draft arrangements. Furthermore,although I have described the invention as applied to mixtures of airand gasoline, it will be understood that it might be applied to anyconduit conveying a mixture of gas and liquid or vapors. Furthermore,the device can be installed not only between a carburetor and a manifoldbut might also be installed between the manifold branches and thecylinders adjacent the valves or at any other point where diflicultywith liquid on the walls of a conduit is experienced. I do not,therefore, wish to be limited to the particular form of my inventionherein illustrated and described, but claim as my invention allembodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the type described, a conduit for conveying a mixtureof gas and liquid, a trough extending into said conduit and adapted tointercept and. collect liquid moving along the wall of said conduit inthe direction of mixture flow therethrough, means in said conduitadapted to create a zone of greater mixture velocity at one side of theconduit, means, disposed in said zone of greater mixture velocity, forincreasing the velocity and reducing the pressure of a portion of thmixture, and means for conveying liquid from said trough to saidpressure reducing means and introducing said liquid into said portion ofthe mixture having increased velocity and reduced pressure.

2. In a combination with a conduit for mixtures of liquids and gases, abutterfly type throt-' tle valve disposed in said. conduit, thedownstream portion of said valve being normally disposed in angularrelation to the longitudinal "axis of said conduit, a liquid collectingtrough extending around the wall of said conduit and projectingthereinto, said trough being situated in said conduit downstream fromsaid throttle valve, means, in said conduit and disposed adjacent thedownstream edge of said throttle valve, for increasing the velocity andreducing the pressure of a portion of the mixture passing through saidconduit, and means for conveying liquid from said trough to saidpressure reducing means and introducing said liquid into said portion'ofthe mixture having increased velocity and reduced pressure.

3. In combination a mixture conducting conduit, a butterfly valvetherein, a trough disposed downstream from said valve and extending intosaid conduit, a Venturi tube member disposed in said conduit and havingits entering or upstream end disposed on the same side of said conduitas the downstream portion of said butterfly valve and its downstream oroutlet end disposed in said conduit, and liquid conveying connectionsbetween said trough and the throat portion of said venturi.

4. In a device of the type described, a body, an aperture extendingthrough said body, walls defining a trough extending around saidaperture, said body having an outer groove extending generally parallelto said trough and disposed radially outwardly therefrom, and said bodyalso having connecting grooves extending from said trough to said outergroove, dam walls adjacent said connecting grooves and extendingtransversely across said trough and dividing said trough into aplurality of sections, a Venturi' type tubular member secured to saidbody at the edge of said aperture and having its Venturi passageextending substantially parallel to the axis of said aperture, and afluid conducting means from said outer groove to the throat portion ofsaid Venturi member.

5. In a device of the type described, a body, an aperture extendingthrough said body, walls defining a trough extending around saidaperture, said body having an outer groove extending generally parallelto said trough and disposed radially outwardly therefrom, and said bodyalso having connecting grooves extending from said trough to said outergroove, dam walls adjacent said connecting grooves and extendingtrans-'- versely across said trough and dividing said trough into aplurality of sections, a Venturi type tubular member secured to saidbody at the edge of said aperture and having its Venturi passageextending substantially parallel to the axis of said aperture, fluidconducting means from said outer groove to the throat portion of saidVenturi member, and cover plates supported on said dams and providingclosed sections of said trough and said connecting grooves adjacent saiddams.

6. In a device of the type described, a body, an aperture extendingthrough said body, walls defining a trough extending around saidaperture, said body having an outer groove extending generally parallelto said trough and disposed radially outwardly therefrom, and said bodyalso having connecting grooves extending from said trough to said outergroove, dam walls adjacent said connecting grooves and extendingtransversely across said trough and dividing said trough into aplurality of sections, a Venturi type tubular member secured to saidbody at the edge of said aperture and having its. Venturi passageextending substantially parallel to the axis of said aperture, fluidconducting means from said outer groove to the throat portion of saidVenturi member, and centering lugs spaced around said aperture' adjacentthe inner edge of said trough.

'7. In apparatus of the type described, a conduit having an aperturetherethrough, a'trough extending around said aperture, a Venturi memberdisposed adjacent the wall of said conduitin said aperture, liquidconducting means extending from said trough to said Venturi member, andmeans in said conduit upstream of said Venturi member for directing theflow of fluid through said conduit toward said Venturi member.

8. In combination, a mixture conducting conduit, a butterfly valvetherein, a trough extending around and into said conduit, a Venturimember disposed in said conduit and having its entering or up-stream enddisposed on the same side of said conduit as the down-stream'portion ofsaid butterfly valve and its down-stream or outlet end disposed in saidconduit, and liquid conveying connections between said trough and thethroat portion of said venturi.

9. In a device of the type described, a body conduit and having anaperture corresponding to the passage through the conduit, said bodyhaving a trough portion extending around said aperture, a Venturi memberdisposed adjacent to said body at the side 0! said aperture, liquidconducting means for conveying liquid from said trough to said Venturimember, and a liquid conduit extending into said Venturi member andhaving its discharge opening directed toward the downstream end of saidVenturi member, said liquid conduit being connected to said liquidconducting means.

10. In a device of the. type described, a body having an apertureextending therethrough, walls defining a trough extending around saidaperture, said body having an outer groove extending generally parallelto said trough and disposed radially outwardly therefrom, and said bodyalso having a connecting groove extending from said trough to said outergroove, a Venturi-type tubular member secured to said body at the edgeof said aperture and having its Venturi passage extending substantiallyparallel to the axis of said aperture, and fluid conducting means fromsaid outer groove to said Venturi member.

HERMAN HERSCH.

